Missed periods?

November 29, 2005 10:09 AM

Missed periods. Not pregnant. More inside.

I'm 27, and have had normal periods all my life. I went off birth control pills about a year ago becuase I suddenly had high blood pressure (possibly stress related). Things were fine. Suddenly I haven't had a period since August. I went to the doctor, who put me back on birth control (the ring) and assured me that would fix it, and also suggested that I lose 20 pounds. He did some blood work, all of which was apparently normal. Been on that one month - took it out almost a week ago and still no period.

I'm not pregnant. I've got a call back into the doctor. Has anyone experienced this? What can be the reason? I know my body, and I know this isn't right, but becuase I can't articulate any other "symptoms" the doctor just tells me not to worry.

posted by anonymous to Health & Fitness (21 answers total)

Are you on any medications for the high blood pressure? Aldactone/spironolactone can mess with periods. So can increasing the amount you exercise.
posted by needs more cowbell at 10:21 AM on November 29, 2005

i suppose since you care about your body, you aren't anorexic. being stressed also can cause you to miss periods.
posted by soma lkzx at 10:26 AM on November 29, 2005

Have you lost the weight? Overweight/underweight can cause missed periods.
Were you regular before the bcp?
I have a friend who misses periods and then has a month long period etc. It was very difficult for her to get a doctor to care. So many feel that less/no periods, who doesn't want that?! But the down side was the occasional month-long period and also concerns about fertility for the time she may want to get pregnant.
Since you are having no other symptoms (and if your pap smears are normal), I would wait a while and see what happens. I think it can take a while for an out of whack system to get back in order.
Also, if your doctor is not being concerned enough and you feel that you are not getting the care you need, shop around for a new one.
Be sure to keep track of everything.
posted by TheLibrarian at 10:31 AM on November 29, 2005

Excessive exercise can lead to missing periods (as in more than a couple hours every single day). In fact, anything that would force your body to exert huge amounts of energy (like stress or a serious illness) could cause your body to stop having periods.
posted by Plutor at 10:32 AM on November 29, 2005

It can take more than a month for your body to "get over" birth control. Also, if you have thyroid problems, it can really throw your body out of whack. It can take more than the standard blood test to find that a women is hyperthyroid, too.

I've often felt that doctors will dismiss the lack of periods. I think this is because there are so many causes for this, and they usually correct themselves.
posted by Monday at 10:48 AM on November 29, 2005

Weight loss and stress can both be factors. Are you feeling any tenderness?
posted by itchie at 11:13 AM on November 29, 2005

How much caffeine are you drinking? Too much caffeine -- like an insane amount of caffeine -- can mess with your periods.
posted by youarejustalittleant at 11:18 AM on November 29, 2005

If the doctor suggested anon lose 20 pounds I think it safe to say that anorexia and overexercising are not the problems.
posted by caddis at 11:25 AM on November 29, 2005

I missed mine for something like six months when I was under a lot of stress once. My doctor was basically unconcerned since they knew I wasn't pregnant and I was otherwise healthy.
They ended up giving me progesterone to get things started again, and then I went on the pill to keep it regulated. But, that was after missing it for almost half a year, as I said, and basically at my insistance.
posted by Kellydamnit at 11:28 AM on November 29, 2005

I do not have any advice (except for what is already said above), but I wanted to voice my support. I know exactly how it feels, and it sucks. I lost a lot of faith in my body when my periods disappeared, and I still do not know why they did (they seem back, after a four month absense).

this site sums up a couple of possible reasons and cures, most of which are already mentioned in this thread.
posted by davar at 11:46 AM on November 29, 2005

PCOS maybe?
posted by konolia at 11:47 AM on November 29, 2005

I have a friend who misses periods and then has a month long period etc. It was very difficult for her to get a doctor to care. So many feel that less/no periods, who doesn't want that?! But the down side was the occasional month-long period and also concerns about fertility for the time she may want to get pregnant.

I have been in the same boat. My periods have never been regular, but now they are months apart with 1-2 week periods 3-4 times/year. Doctors usually ask "Are you having a lot of pain or cramping?" When I explain that I have almost no PMS-type symptoms they say I have nothing to worry about.

Recently I decided that I was going to figure out why it was happening. I had a full set of blood tests, physical exams, etc which revealed nothing out of the ordinary. Basically, I found out that there was nothing wrong, but also no explanation.

My doctor did say that managing diet, weight, exercise, and stress is the surest way to regularize a period without the pill. But an irregular period is not, in and of itself, unhealthy.
posted by annaramma at 12:14 PM on November 29, 2005

Did your blood work include prolactine levels? High prolactine level (very common) could effect your period.
posted by mirileh at 12:18 PM on November 29, 2005

You might start charting as described in "Taking Charge of Your Fertility," which might be informative to you (perhaps you've become anovulatory) and will give you documentation to take to your new doctor.

Or maybe to take to your new doctor, one who pays attention to your concerns.
posted by Lyn Never at 12:33 PM on November 29, 2005

This book is on my "to read" list (unfortunately that list is longer than the number of books I can read in a year... but I digress). I've heard that it's insightful for all women (not just the menopausal variety).

Perhaps if you're not happy with the indifference of the medical profession on this issue, you could try a naturopath/homeopath? They'll treat you're whole body, not just the symptom.

Good luck dealing with this.
posted by ancamp at 12:41 PM on November 29, 2005

If all the doctors say "don't worry about it," why would you worry about it?
posted by five fresh fish at 1:29 PM on November 29, 2005

One month to readjust isn't too weird. Give it another full cycle before you start to get alarmed. (Stress can affect periods too, remember!)

If you feel blown off for real, though, get a second opinion.
posted by desuetude at 1:56 PM on November 29, 2005

I've had an abnormal cycle since it first began when I was twelve. During college the lack of period every other month, or every few months, had me taking pregnancy tests every so often. Each of the Drs I've gone to have said that yes, it's abnormal, but not unhealthy. Blood tests and paps come back aok. I've become accustomed to it and now consider myself lucky for not having to deal with a period every month.

Also, I've been taking birth control pill these last 6-7 yrs and while they seemed to normalize my cycle for a few months at a time I still skip periods. Too bad I don't also skip the PMS.
posted by Constant Reader at 2:03 PM on November 29, 2005

If all the doctors say "don't worry about it," why would you worry about it?

What difference does the answer to that question make? Add my voice to the chorus of people suggesting you find a doctor who cares about your concerns - preferably a gynecologist, I'd think.
posted by ikkyu2 at 6:24 PM on November 29, 2005

I suggest you find another doctor, preferably one that's female. Any doctor who won't listen to you and your concerns is pretty much useless. It's your body and your health - find someone who will listen to you.
posted by Serena at 7:39 PM on November 29, 2005

I missed 6 months aged 27. New bloke, stressful situation, freaked me right out. The doctor gave me a CT scan to loook at the pituatary (? i think. The gland in the middle of the head anyway). Nothing wrong. Everything eventually returned to normal.
posted by handee at 1:08 AM on November 30, 2005